Opposition leader suggests ruling party power struggle behind ex-official Rizhvadze shooting

Ana Tsitlidze, a senior member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), has claimed that the recent shooting of Tornike Rizhvadze, the former head of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, may be part of a wider internal purge within the ruling party's ranks.

Commenting on the incident on Monday, Tsitlidze wished Rizhvadze a full recovery while accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, of turning on their own allies.

“This system devours its own children - it’s a natural process under dictatorship,” Tsitlidze said, alleging that Ivanishvili was now pressuring former loyalists to return money they had illicitly acquired. She warned current government supporters that they, too, could face similar outcomes if they remain aligned with the regime.

According to Tsitlidze, there had been longstanding rumours that Rizhvadze had been asked to return misappropriated funds - and possibly even more than he had taken - and that tensions related to this demand may had played a role in the shooting.

Rizhvadze was admitted to Sagarejo GeoHospitals with a gunshot wound to the chest earlier on Monday. He received emergency medical care and sustained lung damage. His condition was described as critically stable and was transferred to Tbilisi.
The Ministry confirmed that an investigation has been launched under Article 115 of the Criminal Code, which addresses “incitement to suicide” 

One individual has been arrested under Article 238, charged with negligent storage of a firearm.

“We do not believe in this investigation,” Tsitlidze said, questioning how a visitor could have gained access to a firearm and turned it on themselves in the presence of the host.